4. Compliment.

So that's why the guy looked familiar.

She had seen him in the portraits in Julia’s room! She was now taking back everything she had thought about Sake last night. He wasn’t ordinary. He was stunning—the kind of handsome Jillian didn't come across every day.

"I’m so relieved what Mom told me wasn’t true," Sake said.

They were already in his car, yet he still wouldn’t let go of her hands.

Earlier, she had been completely caught off guard—eyes wide, frozen in place. It was the first time she’d ever seen someone who looked like he’d been pulled straight from the pages of a novel... and the first time she had ever been kissed—on the lips!

"I took the very next flight just to reach you as soon as possible. I was scared out of my mind, Julia. I thought I’d lost you."

She still couldn’t think of what to say. Her mind was spinning from the shock of that kiss. But obviously, he hadn’t realized she wasn’t Julia.

Of course—he didn’t know his fiancée had a twin. An identical one at that!

"I-I'm okay. Like my Aunt said, your mom wasn’t lying. I was in an accident, in a coma for two days... but I’m fine. There are just a few things I can’t remember. Sorry I didn’t recognize you right away."

She composed herself just enough to say that. It was the lie Victoria had come up with in the moment to cover her shock. That she had only come to the hospital for a follow-up check-up. They hadn’t even finalized the details of her impersonation when Sake suddenly showed up. They were caught unprepared.

"I’m so sorry, Julia... I promise, I’m not going anywhere again. I’ll stay by your side until the day we get married."

She gave a small smile. As handsome as he was, she had no intention of wishing he'd stay.

"Well... like I said, I have selective amnesia. I can be a bit difficult sometimes. Can you handle that, Sake?"

"Of course." He smiled. "But just now, you didn’t call me your usual endearment..."

"W-what was I supposed to say?" she asked, clueless.

"Never mind. You’ll remember soon enough. For now, I just want you to know—I’m not going anywhere."

He kissed the back of her hand, then focused on the road and began to drive.

---

"Mom, eat something," she reminded Valeria, who was just staring blankly at her food.

For a week now, it had become her routine to feed, bathe, and dress her mother. She thought she was getting better—she didn’t look insane anymore.

Although there were still times her mother would have outbursts and look for Julia, she would calm down once she saw her—especially when Victoria wasn’t looking and she could scold her without guilt.

Like now—she wasn’t spoon-feeding her, which was probably why Valeria wouldn’t eat.

"‘Ma, you still have to take your medicine, so eat now," she added with a sigh of irritation. "Dr. Hernaez is coming for your check-up later," referring to their family doctor.

She wasn’t annoyed because her mother wouldn’t eat—she was annoyed because she wanted to convince her to eat. Even feed her, if she had to. And she hated that she cared.

Yes, Valeria was her mother, but she’d stopped being one a long time ago—when she had been cruel, at a time Jillian needed her most.

She didn’t deserve her compassion.

She planned to be cold, to make Valeria hate Julia. But after a week of taking care of her, she was beginning to think her actions leaned more toward caring than vengeance.

Her heart argued that Valeria would feel her revenge more deeply when she regained her sanity.

Or maybe, despite everything, she just couldn’t bring herself to be completely cruel to her own mother.

"Mama," she sighed and finally approached her.

"Julia," Valeria murmured without looking at her. "Julia."

"'Ma, I’m here." She took her mother’s hands. "You have to eat. If the doctor gets here and you haven’t eaten yet, he’ll be upset."

"I’m not sick," Valeria said, looking frightened.

"You’re not sick, ‘ma," she agreed gently. "It’s just a check-up."

She picked up the spoon and fed her.

"Thank you," Valeria said as she took the spoonful. "Julia."

She forced a smile. She had just done her twin sister a favor.

---

"You don’t look okay," Sake observed.

They were having dinner at a restaurant. It was their third meeting, and her starstruck feelings for him were beginning to wear off.

She was back to her mission, although guilt sometimes crept in—Sake was genuinely kind. He was thoughtful and always patient with Julia’s "tantrums."

"I don’t like the food," she said, deliberately pushing the barely-touched salad away. Vegetable salad? Was he kidding? Why would she eat that when there was steak—or whatever meat he was having?

He frowned a little.

"I’m sorry, love. It’s just… you always ordered that whenever we came here," he said apologetically.

"That was before," she replied, realizing a moment too late that she was supposed to be Julia—the one obsessed with dieting, unlike her, Jillian, who loved to eat. "My brain needs nutrients to remember things," she added as an excuse.

He just nodded, amused, then called for the waiter. She took a sip of water, trying not to be affected by Sake’s smile.

"At least now you know how to eat," he said teasingly.

She raised a brow at him, intending to be snarky. But he laughed like she was joking.

"What’s with you?" she asked, annoyed. Was he making fun of her?

"Nothing. I think I just like this amnesiac version of you more," he replied with a smirk before trying to act serious. 

She shot him a look to show she wasn’t amused—even though deep down, she hated how much she liked the way he looked.

"Tomorrow’s my mom’s birthday. We have to be there, love..."

"U-uhmn..." she hesitated.

"It’s okay. I already told Mom about your condition. She won’t be surprised if you don’t remember her. You don’t remember her, do you?"

"No," she answered quickly. Not only did she not remember—she didn’t even know her.

"What does your mom look like? Were we close? I mean... what did I used to call her? Auntie? Mama?"

"My mom doesn’t dislike you, Julia..." His answer didn’t exactly match her question. "I love you. And no one—not even my mom—can stop me from loving you. And you used to call her Auntie."

"So... based on that, can I assume your mom and I didn’t really get along?" she asked, feeling uneasy at the idea of meeting someone who hated her—well, hated Julia.

"Like I said, it doesn’t matter whether she likes you or not. We just have to be there. I’m her only son—it’s my duty."

"What about your dad?"

"My father passed away years ago. It’s just me and Mom now," he replied. "So I hope you’ll understand if she doesn’t treat you warmly. She’s just worried about me."

"I understand," she said with a smile. "So… what should we get her for a present?"

Sake smiled. Two hours later, they were at the mall shopping for a gift for his mother.

---

"Sake can’t meet your mother!" Victoria said firmly.

Sake was at the house to pick her up and had expressed interest in meeting her mother.

"Why not?" she asked, one brow raised.

"Valeria’s crazy! What would Sake think?"

She laughed. "Don’t worry. Sake’s a good man. You should know that." 

She turned her back on Victoria and walked toward her mother’s room.

She wanted Sake to know about Valeria’s condition. She wanted to see how he would react—to find out if he could accept that his future mother-in-law was mentally ill.

"Mama," she called out, Victoria trailing behind her. "Mama, Sake’s here. He wants to see you."

"Julia!" Victoria snapped. "You can’t do this! You’ll ruin everything!"

"'Ma, let’s go?" she ignored her aunt. "Sake’s downstairs."

"S-Sake?" Her mother’s face lit up like a child whose playmate had just arrived. "Sake?"

"Yes, ‘ma." Before Victoria could stop her, Valeria was already walking with her.

They went down to the living room where Sake was waiting. If he couldn’t accept her mother’s condition, he’d back out of the wedding—Victoria’s plan would fail. And that’s exactly what Jillian wanted.

"Aunt Valeria!" Sake greeted warmly.

"Sake?" Valeria looked stunned.

"Yes, Auntie." He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "How are you? I heard you weren’t feeling well. But you look perfectly fine to me."

Jillian’s jaw dropped.

She had told him about Valeria’s condition, but she expected him to be disappointed once he saw it firsthand.

"Sake, it’s good of you to visit," her mother said. She and Victoria exchanged glances—Valeria looked fine.

"Yes, Auntie—" she didn’t hear the rest of what Sake said.

She excused herself to get ready while he and her mother chatted. Victoria stayed behind and gave her a look that clearly said: You’re in trouble if Valeria loses it and embarrasses us.

She headed to Julia’s room and looked for something to wear.

Not that she had anything particularly fancy—she wasn’t raised going to parties.

She had attended a few weddings and birthdays—funerals too, mostly as a singer. It was one of her better-paying side gigs.

She chose a black lace cap-sleeve sequin slim A-line gown—an elegant evening dress. She only knew that description because it was written on the box. It looked unworn. It was also the most conservative among Julia’s clothes, which mostly featured sweetheart necklines.

She took her time, applying only very light makeup. She was never comfortable with a fully made-up face, though it had become necessary in her line of work.

After intentionally making Sake wait an hour, Jillian wondered if he was still awake—or how things were going with Valeria.

Was her mom still behaving?

Well, there was only one way to find out.

She grabbed Julia’s purse, spritzed on her expensive perfume, and stepped out.

They weren’t in the living room anymore—but she could hear laughter.

"They’re in the garden," Victoria said with a smile.

"Huh?" Why was her aunt smiling—like it was totally fine to leave Valeria alone with Sake?

"You took your sweet time. You’re doing this on purpose again, Jillian," she said. "But I must admit—you look stunning in your sister’s gown. Now go. Don’t disappoint Mrs. Fortalejo."

"Okay," she said with a shrug.

She walked out to the garden. Her feet were already aching from Julia’s shoes. Were her feet bigger? Or was she just heavier? They did fit earlier.

She stopped at the door and looked down at her feet, silently cursing the pain.

"Julia," her mother’s voice called. Jillian looked up. "You look so beautiful, my daughter!" Valeria approached her, and Jillian furrowed her brow—her mom didn’t look sick at all. "Right, Sake?"

"'Ma—" she was about to protest, but when her eyes met Sake’s, the words caught in her throat.

"Julia," he said, as if he were looking at a supermodel. "You’re so beautiful..."

She blushed. She was used to being called pretty, but this was the first time she truly felt flattered.

She normally didn’t care if people appreciated her or not.

But this time, the compliment reached her soul.

And the worst part was—it came from the man she was deceiving.

"T-thank you," she murmured anyway.